PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Brett P. Smiley and the Providence Parks Department today announced the return of spectacular seasonal programming at North Burial Ground, the region’s largest municipal cemetery. This October, North Burial Ground welcomes visitors to experience history, performance, and the supernatural during its annual lineup of haunted happenings throughout the month of October. With events ranging from live music to guided ghost tours, the 325-year-old cemetery will come alive with stories that continue to shape Providence.
“These events at North Burial Ground give us a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who shaped Providence while creating opportunities for us to come together, learn something interesting, and enjoy our public spaces in new ways,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “Please join us this Halloween season to have some fun and immerse yourself in Providence’s history.”
Annual Halloween Ghost Tour
Saturday, October 25, 2025, Gates open at 4:00 PM | Tours from 5:00–6:30 PM
Free event; donations welcomed. Reservations required.
As twilight falls, professional actors portray some of Providence’s most fascinating residents whose lives reflect moments of transformation and upheaval. At the center of the evening is Sarah Helen Whitman, writer, critic, and spiritualist once engaged to Edgar Allan Poe. Whitman worked tirelessly to preserve Poe’s legacy and, in life, was known for hosting séances in her Providence home. On this special evening, Whitman will invite guests into her séance tent to share stories of spirits and her fascinating past.
The Ghost Tour is one of Providence’s most beloved Halloween traditions, offering history, theater, and a touch of the supernatural. Admission is free, but reservations are required.
Mausoleum Hill Sessions
Sunday, October 19, 2025 (Rain date October 26), Gates open at 2:30 PM | Music 4:00–8:00 PM
Tickets: $20
The 4th annual Mausoleum Hill Sessions bring music, art, and reflection to the landscape of North Burial Ground. Guests can join Cemetery Director Annalisa Heppner at 2:30 PM for a guided tour before exploring a mini market of local artists. Performances begin at 4:00 PM and feature Olivia Dolphin, Keith McCurdy of Vudu Sister, Silver Rein (Ithaca, NY), Black Season Witch (Chicago, IL), Savoir Faire (Boston, MA), Allysen Callery, and Space Cowboy Newt. Food and drink will be available from Rebel’s Rations, Pizza Envy, and LongLive Beerworks. Proceeds from ticket sales support cemetery programming.
Halloween Self-Guided Tour
Available throughout October
Free
Throughout October, visitors can explore North Burial Ground with the latest edition of its much-beloved self-guided tour booklet. This year’s guidebook theme, “Decay,” highlights stories of transformation and resilience. Free copies are available at the cemetery office.
“North Burial Ground is one of Providence’s most important historic landscapes, and these programs highlight its role as both a place of remembrance and a place for community life,” said Providence Parks Superintendent Wendy Nilsson. “We are proud to offer programming that makes history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all.”
For reservations, please visit our website. To connect via email newsletter or for more information on Halloween programs and beyond, please email northburialground@providenceri.gov.
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About North Burial Ground
Founded in 1700, North Burial Ground is the largest municipal cemetery in the region, spanning more than 110 acres with over 40,000 gravestones. It reflects more than three centuries of history and design, from its early utilitarian sections to landscaped areas of the Rural Cemetery Movement and open vistas of the Lawn Park style. The cemetery is the final resting place of Revolutionary and Civil War leaders, governors, mayors, and prominent citizens, alongside people from every walk of life. Today, North Burial Ground remains active, with more than 200 burials each year and a community of families, visitors, and wildlife that keep the space vibrant.